Thursday, December 11, 2014

Last week the federal government's Centers for Disease Control released for comment (Dec. 2 Federal Register) recommendations for health-care providers who are counseling male patients and parents regarding male circumcision. (Full text of Recommendations). The recommendations focus on the benefits of male circumcision in preventing transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and strongly recommend neonatal circumcision of boys-- a practice consistent with Jewish and some Muslim traditions. The recommendations are positive, but more cautious, as to circumcision of adolescent and adult males. The San Francisco Chronicle reports on reactions to the recommendations.